30 



The Committee congratulate the Fellows that there now 

 appears some hope that these large and continued expenses 

 have placed the Buildings, necessary for the proper ex- 

 hibition and preservation of the Collection, in such a state 

 of efficiency as to enable the Society to meet its current 

 expenses out of its current receipts ; and this hope is further 

 strengthened by a resolution of the Council dated Nov. 1, 

 1854, "That no Buildings or Extraordinary Works should be 

 undertaken before August next, when the state of the Income 

 for 1855 would be known, and the money recently sold out 

 be re-invested in the Funds." 



The Committee therefore have reason in stating, that on a 

 careful examination, the affairs of the Society leave much 

 cause for satisfaction, seeing that the uncertain and uncon- 

 trollable sources of Income have proved so elastic, and that 

 the branches of Expenditure which it is quite possible to 

 control and determine exactly, namely that for Buildings and 

 Works, appear to have been placed in a position which will 

 admit of their reduction, for the present, to little more than 

 the cost of preservation, an expense which the improved and 

 solid nature of the existing Buildings leaves just grounds to 

 hope will not be large. 



The Cash Assets of the Society present a decrease of 

 ^2142 7*- 8<?. ; and the Liabilities an increase of £829 6s. 4d. 



The prospects of the Society for the present year present 

 an encouraging aspect, judging by the favour which they last 

 season enjoyed, when, under the most unfavourable circum- 

 stances, 407,676 persons visited the Gardens. 



The increase in the number of Fellows is also a proof of 

 the public estimation of the permanent attractions of the 

 Society, and therefore the Committee confidently anticipate, 

 that, with due economy, the affairs of the Society will present 

 a much improved aspect at the next audit. 



As usual, they have to notice the exact manner in which 



